This past week we had the privilege of celebrating the mothers in our church and community with a very special Mother’s day event. The purpose of this celebration was to honor and bless the mothers, and to convey just how much they mean to us as families, but more importantly, as pillars in the church. You can see from the videos and photos just how special it was!
We presented more than 50 mothers at our event with special Mother’s Day gifts containing special treats and items to pamper them, and for them to enjoy. We also had a massive cake prepared to properly celebrate the event, and for all to enjoy with a good cup of coffee after the service!
During the event I took some time to share a message on how important the role of mothers are in the church, and how valued she is in the eyes of God. Men and women are both equal in the eyes of God, but they also have unique callings and gifting in the ministry.
I shared on the story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15:25-28 where we read the following:
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Jesus initially spoke to this woman in a way that might seem offensive, mentioning dogs and crumbs, but this He did to address the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who were present. The pharisees used their hypocrisy to see themselves elevated above other races and demographics, so-called dogs, but Jesus was telling them in an indirect way that their way of thinking is inaccurate and sinful, because he came to save the entire world.
In addition Jesus was showing the Pharisees how important the role of the woman is, and that she is of great value to God by saying: “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” The Pharisees did not like that because of their hypocritical and wrong views of women, but Jesus was pointing out that their thinking was wrong, and that women are incredibly important to God and that they have a mighty calling in Him.
Women are also called to bring forth and raise the next generation, and they have both the capacity and love to nurture and rear those who would shake the world for the sake of the Kingdom of God. They have a strength that comes from God, to keep their children on the path of righteousness, and to bring back to the fold any children that have gone astray.
In Isaiah 60:4 we read:
“Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.”
Mothers, don’t give up when you see your children go astray or veer off the path. You are the key to bringing them back to the Lord through your prayers, your love, and your faith. It’s not over until God says it’s over. Amen!